Associate Engineer Jobs in Lexington, NC (NOW HIRING)

The Associate Engineer, Server Systems is responsible for supporting the operation, administration, monitoring, and maintenance of Inmar's server infrastructure across production, development, QA, warehouse, data center, and cloud environments.
This role supports the Server Team in managing a hybrid infrastructure footprint that includes on-premises systems, virtualized platforms, cloud services, storage, backups, identity services, file services, remote desktop services, and related enterprise technologies. The Associate Engineer will assist with daily operational support, incident response, maintenance window activities, documentation, SOP execution, patching, monitoring, troubleshooting, and project tasks under the guidance of more senior engineers.
The ideal candidate has a service-oriented mindset, a strong sense of ownership, foundational server administration experience, and a desire to grow technical depth across Windows, Linux, virtualization, networking, storage, automation, and cloud infrastructure. This position requires working knowledge of AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform infrastructure concepts, including compute, storage, networking, identity/access management, monitoring, and basic operational support of cloud-hosted systems.Technical Operations and Production Support - 100%

• Support production, development, QA, warehouse, and cloud-based server environments.
• Respond to assigned tickets, alerts, service requests, and operational tasks in a timely and professional manner.
• Assist with investigation, troubleshooting, escalation, and mitigation of incidents affecting server, operating system, storage, virtualization, identity, backup, or cloud infrastructure services.
• Participate in scheduled maintenance windows, including patching, system upgrades, configuration changes, validations, and post-change support.
• Participate in the on-call rotation after appropriate training and readiness, responding to critical alerts and escalating as needed.
• Follow documented SOPs for operational tasks, including backups, restores, patching, monitoring, server builds, account administration, service checks, and recovery procedures.
• Create, update, and maintain technical documentation, knowledge articles, diagrams, checklists, and SOPs.
• Support server lifecycle activities, including provisioning, configuration, monitoring, patching, decommissioning, and technical debt reduction.
• Assist with backup validation, restore testing, replication checks, and business continuity activities to help ensure systems meet recovery objectives.
• Support internal teams by helping troubleshoot issues between applications, operating systems, storage, network, identity, cloud platforms, and server infrastructure.
• Assist with routine administration of Windows Server, Linux, Remote Desktop Services, DNS, DHCP, IIS, FTP, SMTP, file services, and other supported server technologies.
• Support Active Directory-related tasks, including basic user, group, computer, service account, GPO, and permissions administration while following separation-of-duties and least-privilege practices.
• Support virtualization and server platforms such as VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, and physical server hardware.
• Support enterprise storage and data protection technologies as assigned, including file servers, SAN/NAS platforms, backup systems, replication tools, and restore processes.
• Assist with AzureAD / Entra ID and cloud identity integrations, SSO-related support, and hybrid identity troubleshooting.
• Use monitoring tools, logs, scripts, and command-line utilities to identify issues, validate service health, and support operational reliability.
• Contribute to automation efforts using PowerShell, Bash, Python, Ansible, PDQ, or similar tools.
• Follow change control, security, compliance, access management, and documentation standards.
• Demonstrate ownership of assigned tasks from intake through completion, including clear communication, status updates, documentation, and handoff where needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related technical field; or equivalent combination of education, experience, and technical training/certifications.
• 1-3 years of experience in server administration, systems support, infrastructure operations, desktop/server support, cloud operations, or a related technical role.
• Foundational experience with Windows Server administration.
• Foundational experience with Linux administration or willingness to develop Linux support skills.
• Required working knowledge of AWS, Azure, and GCP cloud infrastructures, including core concepts related to compute, storage, networking, identity/access management, monitoring, availability, and security.
• Ability to support cloud-hosted servers and services integrated with on-premises environments.
• Basic understanding of virtualization technologies such as VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or similar platforms.
• Basic understanding of Active Directory, AzureAD / Entra ID, DNS, DHCP, GPOs, service accounts, security groups, and permissions.
• Basic understanding of networking concepts, including IP addressing, subnets, DNS, DHCP, routing, ports, firewalls, and the OSI model.
• Basic understanding of storage concepts, including file systems, partitions, volumes, RAID levels, SAN/NAS concepts, and backup targets.
• Basic understanding of backup, restore, replication, disaster recovery, and business continuity concepts.
• Interest in scripting, automation, monitoring, and operational improvement using PowerShell, Bash, Python, Ansible, or similar tools.
• Ability to use command-line tools and basic troubleshooting utilities such as ping, traceroute, nslookup, telnet, netstat, SSH, RDP, logs, and event viewers.
• Strong communication skills for team collaboration, ticket updates, handoffs, user interaction, and documentation.
• Ability to follow SOPs, change control processes, security standards, and escalation procedures.
• Demonstrated diligence, curiosity, accountability, and ownership of assigned tasks.
• Interest in staying current with emerging infrastructure, automation, security, and cloud practices.

• Experience supporting production server environments.
• Exposure to warehouse, remote desktop, data analytics, data warehousing, or enterprise application infrastructure.
• Exposure to VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or other virtualization platforms.
• Exposure to backup platforms such as Veeam, Networker, Commvault, Backup Exec, Data Domain, or similar technologies.
• Exposure to enterprise storage platforms such as Pure, Infinidat, Isilon, SAN switches, NAS, or similar storage technologies.
• Exposure to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace / GSuite, AzureAD / Entra ID, SSO, or hybrid identity administration.
• Exposure to patching tools, monitoring platforms, configuration management tools, or deployment automation.
• Cloud certification or active pursuit of certification in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Microsoft, Linux, VMware, CompTIA, or other relevant infrastructure certifications.

Operating Systems and Administration

• Foundational knowledge of Windows Server administration.
• Foundational knowledge of Linux administration.
• Ability to perform basic server health checks, service checks, log reviews, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to assist with server builds, patching, upgrades, configuration changes, and decommissioning.
• Understanding of system performance concepts such as CPU, memory, disk, network utilization, and service availability.

Cloud Infrastructure

• Required working knowledge of AWS, Azure, and GCP infrastructure fundamentals.
• Understanding of cloud compute services, such as EC2, Azure Virtual Machines, and Google Compute Engine.
• Understanding of cloud storage concepts, such as object storage, block storage, snapshots, disks, and backup options.
• Understanding of cloud networking concepts, including VPCs/VNets, subnets, security groups, network security groups, routes, firewalls, VPNs, and private connectivity.
• Understanding of cloud identity and access concepts, including IAM, roles, groups, service accounts, managed identities, least privilege, and MFA.
• Ability to navigate cloud consoles and assist with reviewing basic configuration, service status, resource inventory, tagging, and monitoring.
• Ability to support cloud-hosted servers integrated with on-premises domains, identity services, monitoring, backup, and security standards.
• Awareness of cost, security, availability, and lifecycle considerations in cloud environments.

Active Directory and Identity

• Basic understanding of Active Directory domain services.
• Basic understanding of users, groups, computer objects, OUs, GPOs, service accounts, permissions, and delegated access.
• Understanding of least privilege, separation of duties, and privileged account usage.
• Ability to support routine identity-related requests under documented procedures.
• Basic understanding of AzureAD / Entra ID synchronization, cloud identity, SSO, and hybrid identity concepts.

File Systems and Storage

• Understanding of file systems, partitions, volumes, and disk management.
• Understanding of basic RAID concepts and common storage types.
• Ability to check file system health and assist with storage-related troubleshooting.
• Basic understanding of file servers, permissions, shares, quotas, and access troubleshooting.
• Awareness of SAN, NAS, replication, and backup target concepts.

Virtualization and Server Hardware

• Basic understanding of virtualization concepts, including hosts, clusters, VMs, templates, snapshots, resource allocation, and high availability.
• Exposure to VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or similar platforms.
• Basic understanding of physical server hardware, including CPU, memory, disks, RAID controllers, NICs, firmware, remote management, and hardware alerts.
• Ability to assist with server provisioning, monitoring, and hardware-related troubleshooting.

Networking

• Understanding of the OSI model, IP addressing, MAC addresses, DNS, DHCP, ports, protocols, routing, and basic firewall concepts.
• Ability to perform basic network troubleshooting from a server perspective.
• Ability to validate connectivity to services and endpoints using common troubleshooting tools.
• Ability to assist with static route configuration or validation under guidance.

Security

• Understanding of permissions, least privilege, privileged access, and secure administration practices.
• Ability to follow change control and access management processes.
• Awareness of patching, vulnerability remediation, endpoint protection, logging, monitoring, and audit requirements.
• Does not work as administrator or root unless explicitly required and approved for the task.
• Follows documented procedures for elevated access, production changes, and sensitive systems.

Automation and Tools

• Basic to intermediate PowerShell or command-line skills.
• Interest in Bash, Python, Ansible, PDQ, or other automation tools.
• Ability to use version control basics for scripts, documentation, or infrastructure-related changes.
• Ability to use monitoring tools and ticketing systems to track work, document findings, and communicate progress.
• Ability to identify repetitive tasks that may be candidates for automation or documentation improvement.

• Integrity: Gains the trust of others by taking responsibility for actions, following through on commitments, and communicating honestly.
• Teamwork: Builds relationships and works cooperatively with teammates, application teams, security, network, EUX, service desk, and other internal groups.
• Service Orientation: Responds to internal clients and business partners with professionalism, urgency, and a focus on restoring or maintaining reliable service.
• Ownership: Takes responsibility for assigned tickets, tasks, documentation, and follow-up from start to finish.
• Adaptability: Responds to change with a willingness to learn new technologies, processes, and ways of working.
• Curiosity: Seeks to understand how systems work, asks thoughtful questions, and actively develops technical knowledge.
• Analytical and Critical Thinking: Breaks down problems logically, reviews available data, and works through issues methodically.
• Problem Solving: Gathers and analyzes information to evaluate potential solutions while considering risk, urgency, and impact.
• Communication: Provides clear updates, documents work accurately, and escalates issues with appropriate context.
• Continuous Improvement: Supports improvements to documentation, automation, monitoring, operational consistency, and technical debt reduction.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the major job responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the major job responsibilities.

• Regularly required to use hands to handle objects, tools, keyboards, mobile devices, or controls.
• Regularly required to talk, hear, and read instructions on a computer monitor and/or printed material.
• Regularly required to view items at close range and adjust focus.
• Occasionally required to stand, kneel, stoop, reach, or lift and/or move equipment up to an HR-approved weight limit.
• Occasionally may be required to support work in server rooms, warehouse environments, office spaces, or data center locations.

Occasionally: Job requires this activity up to 33% of the time.

Frequently: Job requires this activity between 33% and 66% of the time.

Regularly: Job requires this activity more than 66% of the time.

• Support a safe work environment by following safety rules and regulations and reporting safety hazards.
• Follow proper procedures when working around server hardware, racks, cables, electrical equipment,...